Prison officers arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs into jail

Two prison officers from Staffordshire have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs into prison.

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The pair - from Stafford and Rugeley - were arrested at the end of last month at HMP Dovegate in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.

Both have since been released pending further inquiries.

A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Police said: "A 22-year-old woman from Stafford was arrested at HMP Dovegate on November 20 on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and taking prohibited articles into a prison. She has since been released under investigation pending further inquiries.

"And a 30-year-old man from Rugeley was arrested at HMP Dovegate on November 26 on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled substances and conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into a prison. He has also since been released under investigation pending further inquiries."

John Hewitson, Serco Contract Director at HMP Dovegate, said: “We are very pleased that our intelligence-led operation has been so successful in intercepting these illegal drug intended for our prison.

"We are working hard to reduce and eradicate drugs and we have a zero tolerance towards anyone trying to smuggle them into the prison. We are continuously improving our defences using intelligence, technology and drug dogs.”